Combined press and preserving-receptacle



(No Model.)

M. W. QUIRK, Jr.

COMBINED PRESS AND-PRESERVING REGEPTAGLE.

No. 589,993. Patented Sept. 14,1897. 6 I. 9 3x092.

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COMB|NED PRESS AND PRESERVING-RECEPTACLE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters PatentNo. 589,993, dated September 14, 1897. Application filed January 23,1897. $erial N0. 620,4=9l. (No model.) 7 i i To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, MICHAEL W. QUIRK, Jr. of Milwaukee, in the county of Milwaukee and State of \Visconsin, have invented a new and useful Improvement in a Combined Press and Preserving-Receptacle, of which the following is a description, reference being had to the ac-' companying drawings, which are a part of this specification. I

My inven tion has relation to improvements in a combined press and preserving-receptacle, more especially intended for pressing and preserving meats, such as corned beef.

Under the system now in common vogue corned beef is first pressed in its raw state and then placed in cans and boiled while in the cans. Thesefilled cans are then sold by the wholesalers to the retail dealers. This old method of pressing and preserving meat is objectionable for many reasons, particularly on account of the expense connected therewith and the liability of the meat, when so boiled in a metallic can, absorbing some of the acid of the metal.

My invention when used as a press and preserving-receptacle for meats is adapted to avoid the above and other disadvantages inherent in the old system; and with this end in view it consists of the devices and parts or their equivalents, as hereinafter more fully set forth.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is an elevation of the invention. I Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional View, and Fig. 3 is a plan view.

Referring to the drawings, the numeral 4 indicates a receptacle, which is preferably composed of glass and of cylindrical form. Near its upper end the receptacle is formed with an annular bead, which is out out at diametrically opposite points to form two semicircular sections 5 and 5, the cut-out portions constituting notches or recesses 6 6. Adapted to be fitted beneath one of the semicircular sections of the bead is a similarlyformed wire 7 which is shown in the accompanying drawings as fitting beneath the section 5 of the bead. The ends of this Wire are bent up perpendicularly into'the notches or recesses, said bent-up portions forming parallel vertical members 8 8, which project a desired distance above the upper edge of the receptacle and are formed at their extremities into hooks. j

Thetop of the receptacle is indicated by the numeral 9, and is preferably, although not necessarily, formed of wood. This top extends down into the receptacle for a suitable distance, and at its edge is formed with an outwardlyextending annular flange 10,which fits over the upper edge of the receptacle, a packing 11 of any suitable material being interposed between the flange and the edge of the receptacle in order to effect a tight joint. The pressure device consists of a bar 12, which extends across the center of the top 9 and is adapted to have its ends engaged by the hooks of the arms or members 8. The extremities of the bar are advisedly headed or enlarged somewhat in order to limit longitudinal play of the bar. Projecting downwardly from the center of the under edge of the bar is a cam 13. One side edge of this cam is preferably of rounded contour and the opposite edge straight, said rounded and straight edges meeting at an angle, which constitutes the bearing or contracting point. The bar 12 is also formed with an outwardly extending horizontal handle or lever let, by means of which said bar and its cam are operated. It is advisable that the top or cover, especially when made of wood, be. provided with of the cam.

with a downwardly-extendin g prong 16, which is driven into the top or cover, said plate being secured at approximately the center of said top or cover so as to receive the pressure of the cam.

Inasmuch as the top of the receptacle after being once pressed down by the cam will adhere with considerable tenacity even after the pressure of the cam is relieved it is advisable that some means should be provided for removing the top under such circumstances in order to take out the contents or the receptacle. I therefore employ one or more screweyes or'equivalent devices similar to 17, which are screwed into the top. Two of such devices are shown in the drawings, and, as will be readily seen, serve as a convenient means for effecting the object desired.

In the operation of my invention the receptacle is filled to practically its top edge with the material to be pressed and preserved. The material in some instances, especially if it be corned beef, is first boiled before being placed in the receptacle. The top or cover is adjusted to place and then the ends of the bar 12 passed beneath the hooks of the vertical members or arms 8 of the wire. The handle 14 is then turned down to the position shown in Fig. 1, which will cause the cam 13 to be thrown out of alinement laterally of the bar of which it forms a part, thereby being necessarily caused to press with considerable force on the top or cover and to be locked in this position until the handle is raised. In this manner the contents of the receptacle are thoroughly pressed, and at the same time a practically air-tight receptacle is secured which will serve to effectually preserve the contents and enable the dealer to keep the contents in stock thus preserved for an indefinite period. When it is desired to remove the beef or other contents, all that is necessary to be done is to raise the handle 14 and then pull upwardly on the screw-eyes 17.

The important feature of my invention is the particular formation of the pivots for the ends of the transverse bar 12, consisting of the removable wire 7, formed with the upwardly-projecting members 8, having the hooks at their upper extremities for en gagement with the ends of the bar. \Vhenever these wires become worn, impaired, or otherwise rendered worthless others maybe readily substituted therefor.

It will also be noticed that both bearingarms are in one piece or integral, being joined or connected by the connecting member 7. It is therefore evident that both bearings may be adjusted simultaneously or by one operation, thereby saving considerable time over that which would be required in separately adjusting or attaching two separate bearingarms. Furthermore, each element or member of my device isdetachable and separable from the othersthat is to say, the journalbearings are removable from the body or receptacle and the pressure-bar removable from the cover.

I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself to an annular bead divided into two half-sections 5 and 5, inasmuch as the receptacle may be provided with only one head of semicircular form. It is evident, however, that the construction shown, in which the annular bead is composed of two sections, is the most convenient, as the wire can be applied'to either.

VVhatI claim as my invention is The combination, of a body or receptacle, provided near its upper end with a semicircular bead, a removable wire fitting beneath said bead and shaped to conform to the shape of the body or receptacle, and having its ends bent upwardly adjacent to the ends of the bead to form arms, said arms extending above the upper edge of the body or receptacle, the upper extremities of the arms being bent over, said bent-over portions being in a plane with the arms, whereby integral removable journal-bearings are formed, a top or cover for the body or receptacle, and adapted to extend downwardly therein to form a compression-platen, an eccentric-bar extending across the top or cover and having its ends removably journaled in the bent-over upper ends of the arms of the wire, and means for turning the bar so as to cause the same, when turned in one direction, to press firmly on the top or cover, and, when turned in the opposite direction, to remove pressure therefrom.

I11 testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

MICHAEL W. QUIRK, JR. lVitnesses:

ARTHUR L. MoRsELL, ANNA V. FAUST. 

